EIGHT DAYS UNTIL ROYAL ASCOT | One runner to consider for the eight Group 1 contests

The end of the Derby meeting at Epsom normally means one thing – the countdown to Royal Ascot can now officially begin.

There are now only eight days until the five-day festival gets underway, with action starting on Tuesday afternoon and concluding on Saturday.

Our team have taken a look at the ante-post cards and have selected some runners to keep an eye on during the week.

Here are eight runners to watch out for in the Group 1 contests at Royal Ascot.

QUEEN ANNE STAKES – Order Of Australia (7/1)

The four-year-old may be taking on the mighty Palace Pier here, but Aidan O’Brien’s colt could well be worth some value at this current stage.

A shock winner at 40/1 in the Breeders’ Cup Mile Turf back in November, he will be sent to Royal Ascot without a run and could produce another big effort here with a nice 7/1 price tag.

KING’S STAND STAKES – Battaash (9/4)

Arguably one of the best sprinters of his generation, Battaash returns to Royal Ascot to defend his King’s Stand title.

Charles Hills’ seven-year-old has suffered a few setbacks in the offseason but connections are happy with his progress and has a cracking price of 9/4 currently, which will very likely shorten on the day.

ST JAMES’S PALACE STAKES – Chindit (11/1)

The winner of the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes last season, Chindit could use his course experience to outrun his odds of 11/1.

Richard Hannon’s colt worked hard to win the Greenham Stakes back in April before finishing a respectable fifth in the 1000 Guineas last month.

PRINCE OF WALES’S STAKES – Love (11/4)

Aidan O’Brien’s impressive filly is not confirmed to be running at Royal Ascot yet, but last season’s 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner could make her seasonal reappearance in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

She currently is priced up at 11/4, but she could also see her price drop like a stone if the four-year-old runs here.

GOLD CUP – Tiger Moth (14/1)

Another O’Brien runner that features in the selections, Tiger Moth could relish the 2m4f distance in the Gold Cup and he could be a surprise contender to Stradivarius.

The four-year-old has shown his staying ability over the last 12 months and ran incredibly well to finish second in the Melbourne Cup last November.

COMMONWEALTH CUP – Supremacy (10/1)

A colt that impressed as a two-year-old, Supremacy could rekindle his previous at Royal Ascot with a decent each-way price in the Commonwealth Cup.

Clive Cox’s talent landed Grade 1 honours in the Middle Park Stakes last September and he can be forgiven for his poor showing in the Pavillion Stakes on his reappearance back in April.

CORONATION STAKES – Shale (20/1)

Another runner that possesses smart form as a two-year-old, Shale holds the large odds of 20/1 for the Coronation Stakes.

Donnacha O’Brien’s filly claimed two Group successes last season including the Moyglare Stud Stakes and could return to form here.

DIAMOND JUBILEE STAKES – Nahaarr (7/1)

Hailing from William Haggas’ yard, Nahaarr could continue his rapid progress into Group 1 company in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes.

The five-year-old produced a career-best performance when finishing a neck second to Starman in the Duke Of York Stakes, and he could have more to offer here.